Abstract: Various approaches for simulating a circuit design are described. In one approach, charge-holding combinations of connected circuit components in a non-hierarchical representation of a circuit design are identified as known circuit components. Each identification is made as a function of characterized responses of the combinations. Identification information of the known circuit components is stored in association with the identified charge-holding combinations. For each of the identified charge-holding combinations, sub-combinations of circuit components therein that implement a known circuit are identified, and identification information of the known circuits is stored in association with the identified sub-combinations. Hierarchical relationships between the identified charge-holding combination and each sub-combination of the charge-holding combination are identified and data describing the hierarchical relationships is stored.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system, method and database for storing circuit element classification information in a relational database are disclosed. One database embodiment comprises a block relation, a structure relation, a FET relation, a NET relation and an association relation.